McAllen, Texas

The city of McAllen is the largest city in the county of Hidalgo in the southern US state of Texas. It is at the extreme southern tip of the state of Texas; this area is known as the Rio Grande Valley. The outer edges of the city in some areas are less than 5 miles from the US Mexican borders. The city is known as the City of Palms and is also sometimes known as the Texas Tropics. The city has an area of around 46 square miles of land and about 0.3 square miles of water. The climate resembles humid but hotter sub-tropical climate with a long summer. The rainfall is scant in most areas of the city, although it does rain heavily occasionally.

The city's proximity to the borders of Mexico make it an important city. The presence of a foreign trade zone in the city is catered to by the retail sector from the city. The consumers are mostly Mexican middle class home consumers. The city is also well known to offer excellent real estate opportunities as it has been listed high on most real estate listings. Healthcare is a major concern for the city and there were multiple shortages of healthcare professionals in the city at one time.

McAllen has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. It has something to appeal to everyone's senses. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

McAllen History

The city was founded by John McAllen in the 1850s although the settlements in the areas surrounding the city have been habited since the early 1700s. The city was named McAllen after its founding father and development started here since the coming of the railroad in 1907. East and West McAllen had been set up by the year 1907 and existed as independent towns. The towns however soon joined together into the city of McAllen in 1910 and it was incorporated as a city in 1911. The population of the city grew quickly in the following years and it kept steadily growing at a slower rate past the initial years. The period from 1960-70 saw the city build many different public and civic facilities.

A new civic center was built here in the 1960s and subsequently the population nearly doubled in 1970-80. The city has had a significant role to play in transforming the Rio Grande Valley into the commercial center that it has become today. The city has helped bring new avenues of business and has become a major real estate market. The city is home to most of the major economic activity that happens in the valley and this is also the reason why many companies have settled here.

Building a commercial airport in the city was a significant achievement in terms of the development of the city in 1993. The city also designated Archer Park in 1993 as a public park. This park is significant for the city in many ways and the 4th of July celebrations are also observed here. A significant even in the history of the city occurred in 2007 when a sharp rise in healthcare expenses for the people of the city was seen. In the time between 1992 and 2007, the city's alarming healthcare bill and the sudden lack of healthcare professionals created a spur with the city, county and the state government. A lot of steps have been taken to repair this situation. The city however has made significant strides since then.

The city has managed to preserve some excellent architecture from the past. The Texas State Bank Building is one of the most recognizable sights in downtown McAllen, it was built in 1998.

About McAllen, Texas

The city of McAllen is an important city considering the fact that it is close to the Mexican borders. The city is well known to be a great place to live in as magazines and organizations have regularly rated it on the higher side of these lists. The city also offers excellent value for real estate. The architecture is well known as there is a mix of old and new buildings. The city is served by an airport that offers commercial and civil flights in and out of McAllen.

The city is named after its founder John McAllen who had laid the foundations for the city in the 1850s. The city grew in the 20th century into an important stop-over for many activities. The arrival of the railroad was significant. The city is well connected to the world by an international airport which is one of the busiest in the region. The economy of the city today is based on trade and real estate. Petroleum and agriculture were also an important part of the economy before significant changes in the trade agreements between the US and Mexico was made. Today the city is an important center for trade across the borders. Most of the trade that happens is retail in nature and is consumed mostly by Mexican middle class families.

The meteoric rise of real estate as one of the leading sources of income for the city is also a pleasant change. The value of the real estate market has also been given a big boost by the well developed areas around the city despite its location at one of the southernmost counties in the state and the nation. The city has also tried to develop its healthcare sector in the past few years as at one time in 2007 the city had major problems with people's health and the general lack of healthcare professionals in the region. This has improved in the last few years. The city convention center is a growing center for commercial activity.

The city also has some art galleries that are worth exploring. The annually held Palm Fest is a festival that is dedicated to celebrating the culture of South Texas in particular. Downtown McAllen is host to the McAllen Street Festival which is a major annual event held in the month of February. The city also has a prominent 4th of July celebration which is held every year.

About Hidalgo County, Texas

The county of Hidalgo lies on the southernmost tip of the state of Texas. The county is well known to be one of the fastest growing counties in the state and the nation. The city of Edinburgh is the seat of the county of Hidalgo and it was founded in 1852. The city has a land area of 1570 square miles and about 13 square miles of water. The county falls in the South Texan Plains which have their own unique characteristics of weather and vegetation. The region has been put under a lot of agricultural stress and many plants of yesterday have almost disappeared. Other economic activities in the city include a wide range of natural resources including petroleum oil and gas. The climate is also ideal for farming different types of nuts and fruits. The soil, which is reddish in color, is known to be among the most fertile in the state and has a high yield. The temperature is hot and humid and resembles subtropical climate in most areas.

The county today stands on grounds that were once inhabited by agricultural Indians who had settled here since ancient times. The county also had several passages of travelers and explorers since the 16th century onwards. A lot of the history of the region is still being recovered. Even during the times of the Spanish in the 18th century, there were some settlements that began in the Rio Grande Valley. Ranches were also a major part of the occupation and economy in the area in the 19th century.

The county was incorporated in 1852 after the Mexican War and has since then seen its share of political turmoil. Farming has managed to remain the principal economic activity through the 20th century. Today the growing cities in the county tell a tale of development. The county offers some of the best real estate solutions in the nation and it is also a growing market for companies.